Blairgowrie swimmers show off their skills

Blairgowrie Primary School hosted a year-end inter-house gala to mark the end of the school year on 1 December.

Grades one to six took a dip in the pool, while the Grade 7s signed each other’s shirts commemorating their last day of primary school.

Parents huddled under the grandstand to avoid the rain, cheering on their children as they competed in their houses.

The yearly event was organised by swimming coach Beth Libby-Neale.

“Today we celebrated Blairgowrie Primary School’s long history of excellence in school swimming,” she said. “Last year we had a great gala and this year we ran it a little differently.”

This year, the main races were smaller and swum over the full 25m of the pool and then larger races utilised the full width of the pool, she added.

The overall winners of the day were Dundee house (blue) and the spirit cup was shared by Dundee and Murray (red).

The swimmers, staff and parents were also treated to a visit by Blairgowrie Primary School’s long-time swimming record holder Jared Baxter who now competes at national level.

Libby-Neale said, “This event happens every year and is ingrained in our school tradition. It was a pity about the weather, but I think the kids had a lot of fun… A fitting way to end the school year.”

The principal of the school, Pat Oosthuizen said, “We would like to give a big thank you to Beth Libby-Neale for all the extra effort she went to for organising this gala.”

The beginning of the next school year will kick off with a junior and senior gala.

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